Guanghui Ling AS 16 and Zhan Huang AS 16 demonstrate proper brushing technique to an athlete
On Saturday, June 6, 2015, students, faculty, and staff of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) participated in the Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles® initiative at the Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games at Harvard University’s Murr Center.
Over 1,200 athletes from the Greater Boston area converged on Harvard University’s Athletic Complex to participate in athletic events such as bocce, cycling, fishing, golf, sailing, and softball. Dentists and dental students were on hand at the Special Smiles® clinic to offer oral screenings, health education and prevention services, and referrals to athletes who need follow-up care. They also provided individually-fitted mouth guards to participating athletes.
Special Smiles® is just one component of the Healthy Athletes® Program offered during the Summer Games. Others include Fit Feet (a podiatry clinic), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (including nutrition, bone health, smoking cessation, and sun safety), Healthy Hearing® (an audiology clinic), MedFest® (sports physicals and general checkups), and Special Olympics-Lions Clubs Opening Eyes® (vision).
The Special Smiles® clinic was staffed by 60 GSDM volunteers who were joined by 60 volunteers from Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Mount Ida College, and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said, “Special Smiles is a fun and important event and I am proud that GSDM has participated in it for the past 12 years.” He added, “Thank you to all of the GSDM volunteers, and especially to Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving Ms. Stacey McNamee who works extremely hard every year to organize the Special Smiles event.”
Senior Global Clinical Adviser to Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles® Dr. Steve Perlman PEDO 76 worked with Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver to start the Special Smiles program in 1993. Dr. Perlman’s passion to eliminate health care disparities for people with disabilities led to the founding of the Healthy Athletes program.